Return To Earth: Interview with Author Bria Burton

Welcome to author Bria Burton!

​Bria writes in multiple genres including science fiction, fantasy, women’s fiction, and inspirational. She is a member of the Alvarium Experiment, a consortium of award-winning writers reinventing the way readers experience short fiction. “AOB” is her contribution to Return to Earth and it is available for FREE today through tomorrow on Kindle. Follow link or click on image to download while supplies last!

EAP: What was behind the Alvarium Experiment, and how did the group arrive at this second project, Return To Earth?

BB: When Charles Cornell and Ken Pelham approached me about an idea they had for a unique science fiction anthology, I was ready to sign up immediately. The premise intrigued me—alien probe observes mankind—and the one-of-a-kind launch process sounded fascinating. Each author wrote a short story based on the premise and launched in the Kindle Store individually. Only later did we collect the stories into a single anthology.
Once the group had been established, the Alvarium Experiment was created and the “hive” was ready to work toward our common goal together. The first project, The Prometheus Saga, became an incredible gateway for me as an indie author with exposure to the fans of the other authors. As a group, we worked together from editing, formatting, and marketing aspects. This led to a collaboration unlike anything I’ve ever been involved with as an author. It was a no-brainer to jump on board when Project 2--Return to Earth—was decided on.

Q: What was the inspiration for your Return To Earth story, “AOB”?

BB: What if someone married an artificial intelligence? I loved the idea of opening a story in a marriage counselor’s office and then leading into an immediate twist. The question I had to answer was this: does the person know their spouse is an AI? I thought the story would be much more intriguing if the human partner was unaware. Writing the story was a lot of fun because it meant discovering the reasons why the AI kept the secret, where they came from (in this case another planet), and how the reveal would come about to the spouse. And I even had room at the end for one last surprise twist.

EAP: Could you tell us about a difficulty you overcame as you wrote this particular story? 

BB: I submitted this story to science fiction and fantasy magazines and received seven rejections. On the eighth submission, the story went into the final round. I even received a personalized letter explaining that they liked the story, but that it didn’t make the cut. So I let the story simmer for a while, and then the Alvarium Experiment came up with the Return to Earth premise. I knew with a few minor tweaks and adjustments, the story would fit perfectly, and I was really excited to have it out there because it was a story that I enjoyed.

EAP: What does your next year as a writer look like? 

​BB: I’ll be at the Florida Writers Association Conference Oct. 20-23rd where I’m teaching a session called “A Writer’s Love/Hate Relationship with Social Media.” The Alvarium Experiment also has a panel that we’ll be hosting on Author Collaboration. On Saturday, Oct. 22nd, I’ll be hosting the Conference Facebook Event until noon where attendees can come in and learn how to host their own Facebook parties (such as book launches) while simultaneously hosting the actual FWA Conference FB launch event.
I’m currently waiting on a response from an agent who is reviewing a full manuscript (and trying not to bite my nails in the process). The novel, Sprinter, won First Place in the Royal Palm Literary Awards in the Women’s Fiction category in 2015. I’ve just released a novelette called The Running Girls that will serve as a companion piece to Sprinter. I’m also editing an epic fantasy trilogy called Livinity (another RPLA winner). Book One is nearly ready for agent submissions. I’ll continue to write and submit short stories, and I’m very excited for whatever the Alvarium Experiment comes up with as Project 3. At St. Pete Running Company, I also write the blog and web content.

EAP: How can readers find out more about your work?

BB: My website is the best place to start: www.briaburton.com. My Amazon Author and Goodreads pages are places where you can find my published works and leave reviews. You can also LIKE me on Facebook, FOLLOW me on Twitter, and connect with me on my blogs: Writing For the Love and The Anti-Running Runner.

About the Author
Award-winning author Bria Burton lives in St. Petersburg with her wonderful husband and two wild pets. At St. Pete Running Company, she's employed as a blogger and customer service manager. As a member of the Florida Writers Association, she leads the St. Pete chapter and serves on the statewide FWA Board. Her short fiction has appeared in over a dozen anthologies and magazines. She has earned two First Place Royal Palm Literary Awards (RPLA) for unpublished manuscripts. Her novella, Little Angel Helper, is a 2016 RPLA Finalist. Visit Bria at www.briaburton.com

About Return to Earth 
Return to Earth is the second project of the Alvarium Experiment, a consortium of accomplished and award-winning authors.
The stories do not need to be read in any particular order; each story is an entry point into the overall story.

Return to Earth stories & authors are: 
"AOB" by Bria Burton. Aona, an Alien-Operated Bot (AOB), suffers a malfunction that could jeopardize her mission on Earth and could lead to the extinction of an entire species from another planet. 
Visit Bria at www.briaburton.com 

"The Paradoxical Man" by Bard Constantine. Albert Rosen is one of five explorers who vanished on a deep-sea expedition into the Bermuda Triangle. He returns to Earth centuries later, transported across space and time through a mysterious wormhole. However, Earth is not the home he remembers. Humankind has been evacuated, and the survivors lie in hibernation aboard the Locus, an orbiting space station. Rosen is forced to match wits with Deis, an artificial intelligence determined to keep humanity in stasis until he is convinced they are fit to return.
Visit Bard at www.bardwritesbooks.com 

"Children Of The Stars" by Charles A. Cornell. In Japan, an American medical researcher discovers the deadly secret behind an eighty-year-old woman's ageless appearance and incredible fertility, and her connection to the bizarre disappearance of the freighter the Ourang Medan in 1948.
Visit Charles at www.charlesacornell.com 

"Project Bright Star" by Kristin Durfee. A once thought failed secret mission to colonize a distant planet, named 0X3B1, is discovered to have been successful when descendants of that mission return to Earth fifty-one years after their grandparents left, much to the surprise, and fear, of the world.
Visit Kristin at www.kristindurfee.com 

"Recovery" by Veronica Helen Hart. When a virus threatens the lives of everyone on board a transfer station for intergalactic travel, it's up to Dr. Candace Bertram to retrieve the only known vaccine from Earth. The risky, untested method of transport could mean catastrophic mission failure, and grave danger for Dr. Bertram.
Visit Veronica at www.veronicahhart.com 

"Coming Home" by John Hope. Finally achieving his dream of being an astronaut on the Jupiter missions, Jasper's mind is elsewhere, on the recent loss of his stepfather, Bud. But Jasper's space mission is interrupted when he is sucked into a wormhole that transports him to a different time, 30 years in the past. And now, doctors don't believe where he's from. Fortunately, his loving nurse at his side comforts him and a love builds. That is, until he realizes that his nurse's son is Jasper as a young boy.
Visit John at www.johnhopewriting.com 

"Someday Loyal" by Elle Andrews Patt. Alien invaders are lobbing fireballs at Peoria, but Grandmama is holding tea. When the military arrives in search of Mrs. Suniol, Alice is drawn into the mystery of Lake Snow, a missing husband, and securing the key to an entire civilization's survival.
Visit Elle at www.elleandrewspatt.com 

"Under The Whelming Tide" by Ken Pelham. The Aethir, space-born descendants of the mythical planet Earth, are returning home at last to fulfill their destiny. But not all believe the great homecoming will be the heaven they have been promised.
Visit Ken at www.kenpelham.com 

"Social Experiment" by Tracie Roberts. For the past two years Dr. Olivia Tate had led a satisfying life with her alien spouse, Kya Dumont. As a scientist and cancer survivor, Liv is on a mission to discover a cure for the deadly disease. But something equally deadly has put Kya’s people, the Oo’mahn, in danger of extinction. With an order to evacuate Earth, Kya struggles between helping her people and remaining with the woman she loves, especially now that Liv has also fallen ill. Now Kya’s ship is approaching and the couple must not only find a cure for Liv and the Oo’mahn, but also devise a plan to remain together despite the objection of the aliens.
Visit Tracie at www.tracieroberts.com 

"Gaia Returning" by C.L. Roman. Pirates steal things. It's what they do... When Captain Irina Demyanov’s first mate disobeys orders and steals the crown jewels of a vengeful alien race, she knows she’s out of options. Desperate to escape, Irina takes her chances on a dangerous vortex leap and lands near an unnamed, yet strangely familiar planet. The gamble may have paid off, but between hostile inhabitants and inevitable discovery by their pursuers, the pirates’ chances of survival appear slim. Can the human remnant find refuge, or will their enemies put a permanent end to the human race?
Visit C.L. at www.brassragpress.com

For additional info about the stories and authors, visit the website: www.alvariumexperiment.wixsite.com/returntoearth
Facebook Fan Page: The Alvarium Experiment 

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